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Nuclear fuels

Nuclear energy is declining in importance further in Germany. The proportion of nuclear power in the German energy mix has been in decline since the decision reached by the German government to completely withdraw from power generation in German nuclear power plants by 2022. The share of nuclear power in gross power generation was 14 % in 2015.

There continues to be a growing interest world-wide in using nuclear fuels for energy applications. The demand for uranium will probably rise in Asia and the Middle East in particular. A moderate rise in uranium demand in the coming decades is also expected in North America, South America and Africa.

65 nuclear power plants were under construction in 15 countries at the end of 2015. 24 of these were in China alone. Another 125 nuclear power plants are currently in the planning or approval phase. 441 nuclear power plants are currently in operation world-wide. From a geological point of view, no shortage in supplies of nuclear fuels is expected in the long term because of the very extensive global reserves of uranium.

Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia account for a share of over 70 % of global production, and are the largest uranium producing countries in the world.

BGR's activities include advising the German government and representing Germany on international committees with respect to the geological availability of nuclear fuels, as well as the remediation of contaminated mining sites.